Dilione



Dec. 8, 1953 R. DlLloNE 2,651,505

SPEAKER PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR DRIVE-IN THEATERS Filed Aug. 1e. 195o s sheets-sheet 1 A'J'TRNE'Y Dec. 8, 1953 R. DlLloNE 2,661,505

SPEAKER PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR DRIVE-IN THEATERS Filed Aug. 16, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .L Wm

INVEN TOR.

@acta pula/v5 IWW 2,661,505 SPEAKER PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR DRIVE-IN THEATERS Filed Aug. 16, 1950 R. DILIONE Dec. 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES Zattlt ATENT OFFICE SPEAKER PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR DRIVE-IN THEATERS 10 Claims. 'i

This invention relates to protective devices for the speakers in a drive-in theater and more particularly to a device that will automatically chock a car when the speaker isremoved from its support to be mounted in the car and vice versa will automatically release the checking device when the speaker is returned to its support.

In the drive-in theaters there are a plurality of supporting posts distributed throughout the area 'in which the cars are to be parked. These supe porting posts or standards are utilized to permit a speaker to be hung or supported by the post and the necessary electrical connection from the speaker may pass through the post and in turn under ground to the central operators control or sound distributing unit. The drive-in theaters thus must provide a large quantity of speakers over the area of their theater with a minimum of attendants and due to the fact that the attendants must Work in the dark they are able to direct and position the cars entering and to see that the speakers are removed from the posts or standards and are hung over the glass of the Car, but the attendants cannot anticipate the time Ythat each car Will be ready to leave and therefore the car driver is requested to return the speaker to the post or supporting standard. lThe average drive-in theater has found in the past that a great many drivers start their car and leave Without returning the speaker to its proper post or standard and thus with the speaker still mounted in the car the wire from said speaker is torn loose from the post or standard. This is a great loss to the drive-in theater as the average driver becomes alarmed and Would rather make his escape than report the damage or return the speaker.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device that is connected to the speaker support ing standard and in which the device will automatically chock the car when the speaker is removed from said standard. A further object of this invention is to provide a theft preventive means for speakers in a drivein theater in which said means prevents the movement of the car to leave the drive-in theater unless the speaker is returned to its proper designated supporting means.

A still further object of this invention is to pron vide a mechanically operated trigger device to support a speaker for a drive-in threater in which the trigger device is connected to a mechanically operated checking means so that upon the removal of the speaker from its support the trigger will be released and the checking means will be effected.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent upon reference to the detailed description and the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device with the checking means partly in cross section,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the checking means in a released position,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a plan View taken online A-li of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of another ernbodiment of the checking means, and

Fig. '7 is a side elevational View of the checking means illustrated in Fig. 6 in a released position.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is illustrated a supporting post or standard l 8 that may be mounted in a concrete base or any other means to the ground. The post Ill at its upper end is provided with an electrical connection box li. Mounted in opposed relationship and aixed to the post or standard Ill are a pair or" boxes or baskets l2. The baskets l2 are designed to be as small as possible yet provide suflicient space internally to completely enclose the type of speaker ifi used in a drive-in theater. The baskets l2 are provided with hinged covers I3. A hollow pipe l5 is connected from the basket l2 through the ground to a checking unit I3. Within the pipe lli there is a stiff control wire iE. The checking device i3 is comprised of a box-like structure having a pair of side members 20 and 2l and a top member 22. The top member 22 extends over approximately one half the length of the side members 2B and 2| and a hinged cover member 23 is attached te the edge of the top member 22 to provide in its closed position a complete covering of the side members 2t and 2l. A. cam 25 is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 26 to the side 2e of the checking device IS. The cam 25 is also provided Wth a pin 2l and a stop pin 23 is aliixed to the side 28 so as to limit the degree or" pivotal movement of the cam 25 in one direction. The pipe l5 extends into the checking device I3 and may be clamped to one side of the checking device by a pair of clamps 2S, Wire it extending through the pipe l5 at its end is fastened about the pin 2l of the cam 25. Ilhe wire it at its opposite end is attachedrto the cover it of the basket l2. Thus it is apparent as illustrated in Fig. l that when the cover i3 is raised to the position illustrated, the movement of the cover I3 upward will in turn move the cam 25 to the position illustrated and the cam 'f2-5 will in turn raise the hinged cover 23 to its checking position as illustrated. It is to be noted that with the cam in the position illustrated any attempt of the car to move forward will in turn exert pressure on the cover 23. The cover 23 being supported by cam 25 will exert all of this pressure on the cam and in the position illustrated the force would attempt to force the cam 25 against the stop pin 2S. Thus the stop pin becomes the main locking member and the structural member absorbing all of this force.

Referring to Fig. 2 there is illustrated the same chocking device I3 with the cam 25 moved to its opposite position. This is accomplished after the speaker I4 has been returned to the basket I2 and the cover I3 dropped to its closed position. With the cam 25 in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 it is apparent that the cover 23 may lie in its horizontal position and in this position will offer no resistance to the passage of a car thereover.

As already described the chockin'g device I8 is connected by means of a cable or wire I6 to the cover I3 of the basket I2. Referring to Fig. 3 we may clearly see the manner in which the Wire I6 is attached to an extension arm 35 of the cover I3. The extended arm 35 is rigidly pinned or bolted to the cover I3 and will move according to the position of the cover I3. The extended arm 38 is positioned on the right hand side of the cover I3 as more clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The arm 3i] extends into the basket I2 and becomes a locking means, that is, the means to lock the cover i3 in its open position when the speaker has been removed from the basket I2. To accomplish this locked relationship there is provided a trigger 33 also mounted within the basket I2. The trigger 33 is comprised of two arms 34 and 35 and a central portion 35 through which a pin 3i passes. The trigger 33 is also provided with a spring leaf member 38. Member 38 may be amxed to the bottom of the basket I2 but it is positioned under the arm 34 of the trigger 33 to exert an upward pressure. Referring to Fig. 5 it is apparent that with the ycover I3 of the basket I2 f open and the speaker I4 removed, .the arm 34 of the trigger 33 will be forced upward by the spring 38. Thus arm 35 will be moved outward to abut with the side of the basket I2. It is to be noted that the end of arm 35 is provided with arm 3U and trigger 33 will remain in their proper L relationship, there is provided an additional member 4I, Figs. 3 and 4 that is retained in parallel relationship with the side of the basket I2 but retained in a spaced relationship so that the arm may pass freely between the side of the basket I2 and the member 4I. It is to be noted that member 4I is provided with a bent portion 42. This permits a limited degree of movement by the shelf 45 of arm 35 of the trigger 33. This limited degree of movement is sufcient to move the shelf 46 far enough to the left, Fig. 5, to permit arm 33 to pass downward without obstruction. It is to be noted further that it is necessary to place the speaker I4 in basket I2 so that the weight of the speaker I4 bears on the arm 34 of the trigger 33 and thus `will move arm 34 to the dotted position illustrated and thus releases the trigger mechanism to permit the unobstructed movement of the cover I3.

It is apparent in operation that when a car is directed into a proper position in the drive-in theater the attendant may then raise the cover i3 of the basket I2 which will in turn automatically chock the front wheel of the car. The speaker is then passed into the -car for use. The operator of the car is lthen advised that he cannot drive his car out of the parked position until he has returned the speaker I4 into the basket I2 as the chocking device remains locked until the speaker releases same and further when the operator -of the car has returned the speaker I4 to the basket I2 it is apparent that the trigger V33 will be released and the cover I3 may drop by gravity and of course when the cover I3 drops the cam 25 is moved to the position illustrated in Fig. 2 and the chocking cover 23 will also drop by gravity and thus the operator may drive his car away from the parked position.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 there is illustrated a further embodiment of the checking device, .that is, instead of the device I8 already described there is provided a unit 50. The unit 5B may be similarly box shaped in form but as illustrated it is formed with two ends 5I and 52 and a top member 53 and is not provided with a pair of sides. A small block member 54 may be suspended from the top 53 on one side thereof. A pin 55 is mounted at approximately the center of the lower portion of block 54. A pair of U- shaped bars 56 and 57 are provided, however one side of the U-shaped member may be longer than the opposite side as the extended member becomes the end that is to be attached to the operating mechanism. Thus on the end 58 of bar 56 there is a pin 59 and on the end 60 of the bar 51 there is a pin 6I. The U-shaped member 56 is pivotally supported on either side of the top member 53 by a pin 62 and the U- shaped member 51 is pivotally supported on either side of the top member 53 by a pin 63. The top portion of the bars 56 and 51 may be fiat or may be slightly curved to conform with the contour of the outer periphery of a tire. With the bars 56 and 51 pivotally mounted as described they may be connected in a controlled relationship by means of three elements. A central pivotally supported arm 64 may be mounted on the pin 55 and arm 64 is provided with a pin 65 at one end and 56 at its opposite end. Two similarly -constructed arms 61 and 68 are provided and. both arms are provided with an elongated slot 63 at onev end of the element. Arms B1 and 68 are provided with an aperture 10 at the opposite end of said arms. Arm 6l is mounted with the apertures 'I0 pivotally affixed to the pin 6I and the pin 66 of arm E4 is mounted through the elongated slot 65 of arm 31. Similarly arm 68 is mounted with its aperture 'I0 pivotally supported on the pin 59 and the pin 65 of arm B4 is mounted through the elongated slot 69r of arm 68. In addition it is to be noted that the wire I6 as in the aforementioned chocking device extends into the device 50 and at the end of wire I6 it is afxed to the pin 66. Also the pipe I5 is attached to the unit 5@ in any clamping manner to retain pipe I5 in a fixed relationship.v

It is apparent referring to Figs. 6 and 7 that the chocking device 5!! will be similarly operated when the cover I3 of the basket I2 is opened, that is, the opening of cover I3 will pull wire I6 to the left, Fig. 6, thus moving arm 64 into the position as illustrated in Fig. 6. It is further apparent that with arm 64 in a vertical position, arms 67 and G8 will be pulled into the position illustrated 5 and they will in turn pivotally move the stop bars 56 and 51 inte the position illustrated. Of course the device should not be ,actuated until the car has been parked in theV designated position. With the car in this position as illustrated and the device locked as illustrated, the car cannet move forward or backward. ,To assist in providing a better leverage i'or arms te and 51, there are provided cross braces l'l which act as stop members for the arms 56 and 57i and they will take most of the stress that may be exerted by a car wheel pressing against either bar 55 or 5l. Referring to Fig. 7 it is apparent that when the operator of the car has returned the speaker M to the basket- I2, the cover I3 will drop, thus by means of Wire It arm t4 will be moved to the position illustrated in Fig. 7. With arm 6d in this position, arms 6i and 68 are free te move outward. In the event the car Wheel may be pressing against bar Si? the release of the checking unit permits bar 56 to drop by gravity and the operater may then back his car suiiciently te permit bar 51 to drop to the dotted position illustrated.

p The operator may then drive away from the parked position. The elongated slots 69 in arms 61 and 68 permit this loose relationship of arms 55 and 57, that is, the arms may be held in their upward position if the car tire obstructs their downward movement, but in no case would both arms be retained in an upright position. They Will either both drop out of the way or one will drop and as soon as the car is moved to other arm will also drop and there is no further obstruction te the movement of the car.

Although we have shown a single type of supporting arrangement for the speaker, we may vary the manner of supporting the speaker without departing from the spirit of this invention and although we have illustrated two forms of checking devices that are connected and operated by a trigger mechanism that is operated by the speaker, we may vary the means of checking in its form or in its manner of operation without departing from the spirit of this invention and this invention shall be limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a speaker, a rigid support having a basket mounted thereon to retain said speaker, said basket provided with a hinged cover and being spaced above the ground so as te be accessible by an occupant of an automobile, a checking means located en the ground remotely from said support, said checking means being below ground level and being pivotally supported r te be raised above ground level into position to be engaged by a wheel, a steel wire connecting said checking means and said cover of said basket and being moveable on the eievation of said cover to elevate said checking means into wheel engaging position.

2. The combination of a speaker, a speaker supporting means and a car checking means, a rigid support having a basket mounted thereon to retain said speaker, said basket provided with a hinged cover, said checking means provided with a pivotally supported cam and located remotely from said support, said checking means being pivotally supported, said cam locking said chocking means in a checking position, said checking means and said speaker supporting means connected by means of a ilexible cable in which a stiff wire is meveably supported, said cover of said basket connected to one end of said wire in said flexible cable and the other end of said wire connected te said pivotally supported cam of said checking means.

3. In a device according to claim 2, a resiliently supported trigger mounted within said basket to support said speaker, said trigger retained in an inoperative position by the weight of said speaker when said speaker bears upon said trigger, said trigger provided with an extension that is moved to either of two positions with the movement of said trigger, said extension in one position locking said basket cover in an open position when said speaker is removed from said basket, said extension in the other position releasing said basket cover when said speaker is reinserted within said basket to bear on said trigger, said cover of said basket locking said checking means in a checking position when said cover is in an open position.

4. The combination of a plurality of speakers, a speaker supporting izieans and a plurality of car checking n cans, a rigid support having a pluraliti7 of baskets mounted thereon to retain said speakers, each basket provided with a hinged cover, each of said checking means provided With a pivotally supported cam te hold said checking means and located remotely from said support, each checking means pivotally supported, said cam in one position locking said checking means in a checking position said cam in its other position releasing said checking means to a closed position, each said checking' means and one of said speak-er supporting means connected by means of a stili wire that is moveably supported in a iiexible cable, said cover of said basket cennected te one end of said wire and the other end of said wire connected to said pivotally supported cam of said checking means, means to lock each checking means in a checking position when said connected cover of said speaker supporting basket is elevated.

5. In a device according to claim 4, a resiliently supported trigger mounted in each basket to support said speaker, said trigger retained in an inoperative position by the weight of said speaker when said speaker bears upon said trigger, said trigger provided with an extension that is moved te either of two positions with the movement of said trigger, said extension in one position locking said basket cover in an open position when said speaker is removed from said basket, said extension in the other position releasing said basket cover when said speaker is reinserted within said basket to bear on said trigger, said cover of said basket locking said checking means in a checking position when said cover is in an open position.

6. The combination of a speaker, a speaker supporting means and a car checking means, a rigid suport having a basket mounted thereon to retain said speaker, said basket provided with a hinged cover, said checking means connected to said cover of said basket by a stiii wire that is meveably supported within a nexible cable, said cover provided with a locking arm, said basket provided with a pivotally supported trigger that is biased te a locking position, said trigger provided with an extended releasing arm upon which said speaker may rest when inserted in said basket, said trigger provided with an extended arm te bear against said locking arm of said cover when said trigger is in a released position, a checking means located upon the ground remotely from said support, said checking means comprised of a hinged'member and pivotally supported cam,v Said Gam in one Position supporting said hinged member in a chocking position.

7. Inv a, device according; to claim 6, a stop pin in said chocking device positioned adjacent to said cam to limit the pivotal movement of said cam in one direction, means. to transfer the force exerted on said chocking means through said cam to. said stop pin.

8. The combination of a speaker, a speaker supporting means and a car chocking means, a rigid support having a basket mounted thereon to retain said speaker, said basket provided with a hinged cover, a chocking means located on the ground remotely from said support, said chocking means comprised of a pair of hinged members that may be, raised above ground level, a control arm centrally positioned between said hinged members and moveable to either yof two positions, each of said hinged members connected by a link below ground level to one end of said centrally positioned control arm, a stii Wire connecting said central control arm of said chocking means and said cover of said basket, means to lock the cover of said basket and said chocking means in a chocking position when said cover is in an open position.

9. In a device according to claim 8 a spring supported trigger mounted within said basket, said spring and trigger supporting said speaker, said trigger retained in an inoperative position with said speaker bearing upon said trigger, said trigger provided with an extension to lock said basket cover in an, open position when said speaker is removed from said basket, said trigger releasing said basket cover when said speaker is reinserted Within said basket to bear on said trigger, means to, lock said cover of said basket and said chocking means in a chocking position when said cover is in an open position.

10. The combination of a speaker, a speaker supporting means` and a car chocking means, a rigid support having a basket mounted thereon to retain said speaker,l said basket provided with a hinged cover, a checking means located on4 the ground remotely from said support, said chocking means pivotally supported to be raised above ground level, a cam to support'and lock said chocking means in a chocking position, a stiti wire connecting said chockingnji'eans and said speaker Supporting means, Saidfv'cjiver of said basket connected to one end of saidy stiffl wire and the other end of said stii wireconnected to said pivotally supported checking vmeans, said cover o f said speaker supporting basket locking said checking means. in a chocking position when said cover is elevated to remove said speaker.

ROCCO A DILIONE.

References Cited in the` file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,045,180 Douthwaite June 23 19,36 4:63339 Wetzel et al. 'Mar- 1 1949 

